Inside John Elway, the football executive is a former player. In redoing Caleb Hanie’s contract, Elway gave the backup quarterback the same one-time, $250,000 roster bonus as was in his original contract.

Hanie was released before the Broncos’ first game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers so the team wouldn’t have to guarantee his $1 million salary. This was done in case the team has to eventually reduce its roster to two quarterbacks in order to fill a position of need elsewhere.

That was a business move by Elway the executive.

However, in re-signing Hanie to a $1 million nonguaranteed salary Monday, Elway did not take away the $250,000 bonus the former Colorado State star was to receive for being on the 53-man roster for one game. Active or inactive. Hanie will get the $250,000 if he is not cut before Monday’s game at Atlanta.

That’s a fair gesture that came from Elway the former player. One NFL agent said returning the bonus to Hanie was an uncommon act of benevolence compared with how many teams typically renegotiate with vested veteran players.

Porter gets AFC honor. Broncos cornerback Tracy Porter picked up the team’s first individual honor of the year Wednesday, when he was named the AFC’s defensive player of the week.

Porter had eight solo tackles (including one for a loss), five pass breakups and a game-sealing interception return for a touchdown against Pittsburgh. Porter now has three fourth-quarter interceptions returned for touchdowns since 2009, the most in the league in that span.

Footnotes. Center Dan Koppen was signed to the prorated minimum $825,000 salary for a ninth-year player. … The cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated shows Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning during his 7-yard run against the Steelers. It’s his 12th SI cover.

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